I love my dogs. I also love nice furniture. Alas, I was convinced we couldn't all live together. All day, while I work in my home office, my two bichon frises, Theo and Oliver, snooze on the large, off-white linen chair in the corner.

Although they're petite, they drool like St. Bernards. When nature calls, they let themselves out the doggie door, then return to wipe their dirty paws on the chair. I've told them to use the doormat, but they ignore me like everyone else around here.

This was no longer a chair; it was an archaeological dig. I tossed a large woven throw over it and tried to forget. But underneath, the chair was a good chair, well made and comfortable. We had a past together and, I hoped, a future. I decided to slipcover it.

My first instinct was to cover the chair with another linen. But a stern fabric-store manager rescued me from myself. "No you don't," she said. "From what you've told me about your dogs, you need a synthetic."

"How about sturdy cotton?"

"Nope," she said in that tough-love tone.

"What do you have in Teflon?"

Back home I did some research and found a fabric called Crypton. "Our fabric resists spills, stains, mold, mildew, bacteria and odors," the Web site bragged. Sure, I thought. The stuff probably feels like Astroturf.

I ordered samples, which, though they didn't feel like linen, were softer than I expected. I spread the samples on my desk, scribbled on them with marker; poured cooking oil, coffee and red wine on them; and ground it all in. This was fun.

Water and dish soap did indeed release the stains. Plus, the fabric didn't look rubbed out after the scrubbing, and it dried without a water ring. So now I had a dilemma: I'm a purist who loves natural fabrics. I'm also a pragmatist who doesn't want to pay to recover this chair again.

I called an expert. Warren De Young, president of Kenneth McDonald Designs, of Costa Mesa, Calif., a leading supplier of interior fabrics to the trade, reassured me.

"We've seen a major industry shift toward using acrylic and other synthetic fabrics indoors," he said. "These fabrics used to go only on outdoor furniture or in commercial settings, but more are coming into homes because they're so much softer, and wear so well."

Here's what else De Young told me about choosing furniture fabrics: Before you choose a color or pattern, first pick your material. Consider not only how much use the piece will get, but also its sun exposure, then use this durability chart:

Fragile: Silks and soft linens (such as Belgian linen) are lovely, but delicate. Save these for adult homes with no pets, and put them only in living areas rarely used, or use them for drapes.

Semi-fragile: Chenille feels lovely, which is why it accounts for half of all interior fabrics sold, says De Young. But some chenilles have a loop stitch, which jewelry or pet claws can easily snag. Cut chenille doesn't have the loop stitch, so may be more practical.

Durable: Cotton, heavier linens (such as Irish linen), cotton blends, cotton prints, denim and velvet are sturdy, and family friendly.

Tough: Synthetic fabrics (polyester, acrylic, synthetic blends) are the go-ahead-and-beat-me fabrics of the upholstery industry.

All the fabrics mentioned above — silk, linen, chenille, cotton and also suede — have a synthetic counterpart. These will be more durable, more fade-resistant and less expensive than a similar all-natural fabric. Leather is also a fabulous, rugged choice, and often looks better with age. The only thing it won't tolerate is any kind of puncture.

Indestructible: Power fabrics, like Crypton (www.cryptonfabric.com), have been used commercially for years and are now showing up more in residential design.

In the end, that's what I chose to slipcover the chair. It may not be right for every home, but it's right for mine, and for any other home that's gone to the dogs.

Marni Jameson can be reached through www.marnijameson.com.